(Newser)
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A judge today ordered former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, lately of DWTS fame, to serve three years in prison for his role in a 2002 scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates. The sentence comes after a jury in November convicted DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. DeLay was once one of the most powerful men in US politics, ascending to the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives.

Senior Judge Pat Priest sentenced him to the three-year term on the conspiracy charge. He also sentenced him to five years in prison on the money laundering charge, but allowed DeLay to accept 10 years of probation instead of more prison time. The former Houston-area congressman had faced up to life in prison. His attorneys had sought probation.